Synopses & Reviews
Paul Rabbitts was born in Co. Durham. Graduated at Sheffield City Polytechnic with a degree in Geography and a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture at Edinburgh University. He has worked for local authorities from, Carlisle, to Middlesbrough and currently in Watford. He is the author of Bandstands, Regent's Park, Richmond Park, London’s Royal Parks, and the forthcoming, Bandstands of Britain. He is currenlty working on a history of Cassiobury and his 7th book on Hyde Park.
About the Author
This book tells the history of London’s royal parks and how they have evolved from private hunting grounds and gardens into public spaces and venues for great events. In some cases, the parks were royally owned as long ago as the Norman conquest, and several of them were acquired by Henry VIII during the Reformation. At this time they were kept private and there was no public access, but during the eighteenth century most of the parks were opened to the public. Landscaping work was undertaken to keep up with trends, and the parks became fashionable places to be seen out and about - witness Rotten Row in Hyde Park. The parks, Hyde Park in particular, has been used to host major events such as the Great Exhibition and various jubilee and entertainment events. It tells the story of each of the nine royal parks from their acquisition by the monarchy through to the present day, outlining their use and management and the major historical moments associated with them.
Table of Contents
Paul Rabbitts is a chartered landscape architect with over twenty years' experience in parks restoration, design and their history and evolution. He has degrees in Geography and landscape architecture, and has studied the history of lead mining in the Yorkshire Dales as well as the history of parks in Carlisle. He lives in Great Britain.